NOT A REAL COWBOY

I have always gotten a kick out of living in the “County Music Capital of Canada” and watching thousands of people show up every year for one of the biggest county music festivals anywhere and turn into “cowboys” for the weekend. I am self-admittedly one of them. There is something about a cowboy hat and Wrangler jeans that just brings out the “yee haw” in everyone. With all due respect to the real cowboys, of which there are many, I truly did grow up on a farm and did my share of shoveling.

I was born and raised in the country
And I was taught quite young what’s right and wrong
And I’ve played a lot of loud rock ‘n roll
But I always loved to sing a country song
I never rode the range or mended fences
I never put my brand on a herd of beef
I was always kind of partial to my sneakers
‘Cause them long pointed boots just pinch my feet

Chorus

And I’m not what you would call a Marshal Dillon
Never wrestled with a steer or did all that
Never broke a bronc or spit that Copenhagen
‘Cause I’m not a real cowboy, I just like the hat

Always had a soft spot for those critters
Never really liked the rodeo
And try as I might I just can’t two step
And never did learn how to dosey doe
But my mother always loved that cowboy music
And we’d all sing and dance, sometimes we cried
And the sounds of country music filled our farmhouse
The songs of Johnny Cash and Charlie Pride

Chorus

So technically I’m just a farm boy
But I don’t feel guilty not one bit
‘Cause I have been up to my knees in manure
And I have shoveled my fair share of it

Chorus

Words and music by Harley Carmen. Copyright © 2007 Harley Carmen (SOCAN).